water was evaporated,
leaving the salt. In localities near salt-springs, thick fragments of
rude earthenware have been found that must have come from vessels as
large as barrels.

Illustration of Water Cooler.---------------

In the next group we have representations of a singular class of
vessels. In some cases the mouth and neck of the vessel is shaped in
imitation of animals. In the smallest one we recognize the head of a
man, with an opening in the back of the head. Many vessels of this form
are known, and a great many different animal heads are represented.
The fish-shaped vessel is a curious one. The one figured evidently
represents a sun-fish. The long vase or jug is in the shape of a child's
leg, with an opening in the heel.

Illustration of Pottery Vessels. (Smith. Inst.)--------

Some very beautiful vessels of the character of those we have figured,
have been found in Missouri. One enthusiastic explorer says, "Perhaps
we have very few modern artists who could equal those ancient pottery
makers in taste, skill, curious design, and wonderful imitation of
nature. Birds, beasts, fishes, even the shells on the river shore, have
an exact counterpart in their domestic utensils." "While digging in one
of these pottery mounds in Missouri, we unearthed a large tortoise. We
thought it was alive, and seizing it, to cast it into the woods for its
liberty, we were suddenly surprised to find our tortoise was an earthen
vessel in that shape. In the same mound we uncovered a huge shell--the
single valve of a unio. Closer inspection revealed that it was a perfect
earthen vessel. Following these came a perfect fish, exhibiting, to our
astonishment, the scales, fins, and peculiarities of that species of
fish in detail."<99>

We must leave this interesting part of our subject. An entire volume
would scarcely do justice to it, but for the sake of comparison, we must
inquire as to the state of this art among the Indian tribes. It seems
that before the arrival of the whites, the Indian tribes throughout
North America, with few exceptions, were apt potters. The whites,
however, soon supplied them with superior utensils of metal, so, that
the majority of the Eastern tribes soon lost the knowledge of the art.
It lingered longer among the tribes of the South, and of the interior,
and even to this day the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico and Arizona make an
excellent article of pottery. Early travelers wrote in high terms of the